Shoot through umbrella on the move!

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Pretzel

Senior Member
Have any of you ever used a "hand held" umbrella/flash set up for roving portraits? With an assistant (my son or wife usually) and sometimes even 1-handed with the camera on a tripod, it seems like it would be easier than moving a stand all over creation. I've seen some on a bit of a pole, others that are more pistol-grip in design... Just thought I'd ask before actually putting one in the cart.

Thoughts? Recommendations?
 
kevy73

kevy73

Senior Member
I usually use a light stand for holding my umbrella, I have a bracket that can hold up to 3 speedlights.

But on one occasion, an occasion a lot less formal than my usual wedding shoots, I had my kids each hold an umbrella in 1 hand and a speed light in another so they could move around with me. Results were awesome.
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
Yeah, sometimes a stand isn't as flexible though. It would be nice find something I could hold in one hand so I could use the other to remote trigger... just in case I was in a pinch.
 
kevy73

kevy73

Senior Member
Pocketwizards FTW.

that is how I trigger my speedlights. Is this what you mean or did I misunderstand you?
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
Pretzel said:
Have any of you ever used a "hand held" umbrella/flash set up for roving portraits? With an assistant (my son or wife usually) and sometimes even 1-handed with the camera on a tripod, it seems like it would be easier than moving a stand all over creation. I've seen some on a bit of a pole, others that are more pistol-grip in design... Just thought I'd ask before actually putting one in the cart.

Thoughts? Recommendations?
Click to expand...

I havent myself because I have a set pattern for work in weddings with tiny variances here and there. there are pros who shoot executives/high level people who have no time for a long photo shoot and you get just a few minutes time. so you get prepared with two assistants who hold boom arms with the umbrellas/softboxes and simply lift them to the angle/distance needed and shoot.

something like this
Telescopic Strobi Boom Arm 45 85 cm 18 34 inch for Flash Light Stand Bracket | eBay

used with something like this softbox

50cm x 70cm 20 034 x28 034 Umbrella Softbox Brolly Reflector for Studio Flash Speedlite | eBay

and a bracket to hold the flash

Hot Shoe Mount Flash Bracket Umbrella Holder for Nikon SB910 SB900 SB800 SB700 | eBay

and you have a simple portable light.

usually they use it with batter packs to waste little time.

if youre shooting children running around, id just use fill flash and be done with it.
 
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